Hover or brooder.



T. N. THOMSON.

MOVES 0H BEOUDEH.

APPLIGATION rum) APR.30, 1910 Patented Jan. 14,1913.

ZMSHEBT'S-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

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T. N. THOMSON. HOVER OR BRODDBR. APPLIOATXON FILED APR. 30, 1910.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913' 2 SHEETS SHBET 2.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOIABN. THOMSON, 8F BCMNTON, PENN SYLVANIA, A5SIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL TOUEA'BY SALES'GOIBANY, 0F BMWN MILLS, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF new Izmir.

HOVEB OB BBOODER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed April 30, 1910. Serial No. 558,642.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS N. T omson, a citizen of the United States, residing in Scranton, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in- Hovers or Brooders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hovers or brooders for the purpose of raising incubated chickens. I

A brooder, properly so-called, lncludes a hover or hovering element and an inclosure therefor constituting a brooder chamber. A hover, properly so-called, comprises essentially a hoverin space or chicken inclosure, being the charm er occupied by' the chicks when they seek its shelter and warmth, and a heater for warmin such hovering space or chamber. In bro ers as heretofore constructed it has been common to build together the brooder chamber which forms the outer inclosure,

)ermanently an inner part of the brooder. lhe brooder has commonly been provided with a floor separating the brooder chamber above from a chamber beneath which gives access to the lamp or heater which commonly is introduced into this lower chamber and projects up through an opening in sald floor, through which opening the heated medium is introduced to the hover or hovering element of the brooder. Such brooders are ada ted to be used either in a building or out oors.

The present invention provides a portable hover which, instead of being built into a brooder as a permanent part or element thereof, is independent and self'contained, so that it may be used for hovering chicks in any suitable or available building, or even outdoors in mild weather.

The object of my invention is to eliminate the greater part of the expense in-.

volved in the construction of the separate brooders, or in the provision otherwise of brooder houses which are at best available as such for only a small fraction of each year. The portable hover thus provided is adapted to increase the brooding capacity of existing poultry houses at an expense very greatly reduced as compared with brooders as heretofore constructed.

and the hover which forms My invention also aims to otherwise improve the construction of hovers, as will hereinafter appear.

An important object is to prevent crowding of the chicks toward the inner and. most protected parts of the hovering space where they would be liable to smother one another; this crowding my invention avoids by providing the greatest heat at the outer or most exposed part of the hovering chamber, next the curtain, where the chickens receive the largest amount of desirable fresh air.

The invention aims also to provide means whereby a constant supply of cool air is maintained between the oil supply and burner of' the lamp, thereby keeping the oil supply cool and preventing liability of accident. To this end my invention provides a radiator from which the heat is radiated with substantial uniformity to all parts of the hovering space, combined with a substantially central source of heat and with an air inlet and an outlet for the products of combustion, relatively situated so that the supply of cool air is received adjacent to the oil supply for the lamp. This and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, I attain by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is depicted one form in which my invention may be embodied.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through my improved apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a plan partly in horizontal section on the line 22 in Fig. 1. Fi s. 3 and 4 are front and side elevations o the removable inner portion of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the latter on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified construction. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of the base of the outlet flue showing a modification.

The heat chamber A is formed of two members, a top a and a radiator a, both of which are shown as made in the form of frustums of a cone, united at their bases. This I regard as a convenient and eflicient form in which to construct the heat chamber but I do not consider it as essential as other forms might advantageously be employed, as for instance the upper member a might be fiat or conoidal. Such top a is exposed to the atmosphere and is insulated as at a to prevent loss of heat. It has a central opening a which is closed by the removable insulated closure B, which is provided with a handle, as shown. The radiator a is formed with an opening alined with the opening a, to which is joined the base or body a, which in the construction shown forms a. supporting base for the entire structure, its interior forming a lower chamber a alined with the openings in the radiator.

An air inlet pipe, C, is secured to the closure, B, and projects t ttmnwardly, its lower end being secured in a heat shield I). An outlet E, preferably a flue, which is dcsigned for the passage f the products of combustion, is similarly'secured in the removable closure B, and has its lower end likewise secured in the shield D. Theoutlet flue has perforations at e for the admission of the products of combustion and these are situated adjacent to the lower part ofthe radiator A. The air inlet pipe and outlet flue are both insulated as shown, to prevent loss of heat. The source of heat supply which is illustrated is a lam F, but an other suitable heater might lie employed This lamp is situated within the lower part of the chamber at and has the usual oil font f burner f and a chimney f which latter might be made of sheet metal, such as burnished tin or galvanized sheet iron, and has a peep hole at f, which is closed by a mica disk to permit inspection of the flame. A deflector or baflle plate G is attached to any convenient place, as, for instance, the air inlet pipe C, and projects over the lamp to deflect the heat throughout the radiator.

It will be observed that between the font- 1 and the shield D, an air chamber is formed into which cool air is constantly being received from the atmosphere and admitted to the burner f and that any surplus air will pass up the flue E, a constant circulation being attained by the passage of the-warmed products of combustion through the flue. This chamber, lying between the flame and the oil font, insures that at all times, when the lamp is burning, the font will be kept cool and thereby liability of the explosion of the lamp or overheating of the parts is prevented. As a further assurance against heating the oil-font, a bright metal disk or reflecting screen D is mounted beneath the lamp burner, to intercept the radiant heat from the flame. Itis kept cool by the cool air flowing across it through the air chamber.

The shield D fits rather snugly within the chamber a", as shown, so that the cooled air may not pass directly from the air inletinto the radiator. This shield has three perforations as stated, for the reception respectively of the flue, the air inlet pipe and the lamp. To permit the easy removal of the lamp the shield is slotted as at d, andthis slot is closed by a swinging plate d which is pivoted to the disk at d so that it ma swing laterally, and permit the damp to be moved out of the shield sidewise. The lamp is supported by a strap 0, which is riveted to the lower part of the inlet piperC, and to the corresponding part of the outlet flue E, and passes under the font. At or about its center 'a cross shelf, 0 is secured to the strap 0 and together these effectually support the lamp.

The hover or brooder comprises a hovering space or chicken inclosure formed by the base a the radiator a 'and on the exterior by a curtain H of suitable flexib e material, such as felt, which may be slitted at the bottom to permit easy access of the chickens, and is supported from the radiator by a ring M, which rests upon the upper surface of the heat chamber, so that the curtain is removable by simply lifting of! this ring. A litter of chopped straw I is commonly placed on the floor w, to retain warmth and absorb the heat. It is best to s read this around the base a", so that the atter may rest firmly on the floor. The operation of my device is as follows: The closure G, being grasped by the handle, is removed, carrying with it the inlet pipe, flue and the lamp the swingin plate (P, being then swung sidewise, the l am may be removed and examined, cleaned, lled, etc. and when lighted may be replaced and the closure, with its connected parts, replaced. Air will then pass down the inlet pipe as shown by the arrows, through the burner and being heated by the lamp will be deflected by the deflector G, and will first pass to upper part of the heat chamber. The heated gases in their hottest condition will then pass to the outer part of the radiating surface a and will cause the greatest radiation of heat to the outer part of the hovering space, thereby eflectually heating such part which would otherwise be the coolest. This overcomes any inclination which the chickens might have to gather at thecenter of the space where the least amount of fresh air is contained, and overcomes objections which exist upon this ground, as the heat,

being evenly distributed or even greatest at the exterior the chickens will have no desire to huddle toward the center but will be encouraged to keep nearer the curtain, where the air is better.-' As the heated airgradually cools, it settles to the lower and inner part of the radiator and from there flows through the perforations e to the outlet flue E.

A thermometer K is supported so as to pass through the heat chamber and indicate the temperature beneath, which may be regulated at will by adjusting the flame. The peep hole f will disclose whether or not the lamp is burning properly.

I prefer to form the parts of my struc ture excepting the radiator of bright tin or galvanized sheet iron for the reason that such polished metal radiates the least heat. The radiator'however is preferably made of black iron by reason of its greater capacity for heat radiation. I have shown the radiator as of annular form, as thereby all parts are equi-distant from the source of heat and a. substantially even distribution of heat is insured which is highly desirable. This form I prefer but do not regard as indispensable, nor is it indispensable that the central opening of the radia tor or the alined lamp receiving chamber should be of circular form. The outlet flue E, as shown, is provided with an extension (4 which is removable, having a slip joint which connects it to the body of the outlet pipe and which sufiices to carry the products of combustion above the inlet C. It will be perceived that the intensity of the draft in my apparatus is determined by the flame. If the flame is turned up an increased amount of heated air will pass up the outlet E, causing an increased supply of cool air through the inlet. This will heat the brooder more but will not involve any danger of fire or explosion, as the oil font will be kept cool by the increased supply of cool air.

I have presented one embodiment of my invention which does not necessarily, however, illustrate the only form in which the same could be contained, as sundry modifications could be made thereon which would suggest themselves to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the essential spirit of the invention; as, for instance, the hover might be otherwise supported than upon the central body or base a; and the heatchamber might be otherwise shaped, although the double-conical. form shown is considered the best.

The removable curtain is an advantageous feature of the device.

My invention is to be distinguished from brooders in which a box is partitioned by an elevated floor through which the lamp projects, the hot gases from the lamp being circulated within a drum, and air from beneath the floor being warmed in a jacket around the drum and discharged through gauze into the hovering chamber. In such brooders the chicks are confined in a closed brooder chamber above the floor and cannot reach the cool outer air by pushing through the curtain; hence if the chamber becomes overheated they are unable to escape.

The principal and most advantageous use of my improved hover is a self-contained, portable hover adapted to afford to young chicks the same warmth and protection as the mother hen would give, and to be placed in any location which is suitable for the chicks, as for example, upon a barn floor, in the unoccupied stall of a stable, or upon the floor of any poultry house or other suitable building, or even outdoors in suitl ably mild weather. It has the advantage of facilitating its instant re-location, as circumstances may render desirable, and of enabling the chicks to have the freest access to the open air at will, to the same effect as if they were hovered by their nat ural mother. It is also small and compact as compared with the ordinary brooders, so that in the season of disuse these hovers may be stored away, occupying but little room.

My invention is of important economic benefit to poultry raiscrs. Its initial expense is less than half that of the usual separate or semi-portable brooders. Its use renders entirely unnecessary the building of the special brooder houses which heretofore have been customarily used in the raising of young chicks. It thus effects an important diminution in the capital required to be invested in a poultry farm. An even more important advantage is that it tremendously reduces the mortality in young chicks and imparts to them greater vitality and endurance than by the use of the brooders previously employed. This is due to the avoidance of crowding so that the smothering of the chicks is prevented, and to the encouragement given them to-breathe fresh air and toemerge frequently from the hover for exercise and feeding, so that they enjoy the benefits of pure air, sunlight and most natural conditions. Practical experience has shown that the loss of young chicks during the brooding period has been diminished over 30 per cent. by the use of this hover. It also has the merit of being constructed of noninflammable material, chiefly'metal, so that it is fireproof and practically vermin -proof, being easily cleaned; and the lamp is readily accessible for refilling and adjusting without disturbing the chicks.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A portable floorless hover adapted to rest on a floor, and to be lifted bodily therefrom, comprising a heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater inclosed therein, a radiator heated therefrom forming the top of a hovering space, and a curtain inclosing such space, the hover being self-contained and adapted to utilize the floor on which it rests as the bottom of such hovering space.

2. A portable floorless hover adapted to 1 rest on a floor and comprisin a central l lamp-chamber above the plane 0% such floor,

a lamp inclosed therein, a radiator heated from said lamp forming the top of a hovering space, and a curtain inclosing such space, the hover being self-contained and adapted to be moved from place to place.

3. A port-able hover adapted to rest on a floor and comprising a heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater, a radiator heated therefrom forming the top of a hovering space, and a curtain inclosing such space, means directing the hot gases from said heater to the outer margin of the radiator, adjacent to the curtain, whereby to impart the greatest heat to the outer portions of the hovering space, and an outlet for the cooler spent gases, the hover being self-contained and adapted \to be moved from place to place.

4. A portable hover comprising a central receptacle forming a base, a radiator above the base, and a curtain hung from said radiator and inclosing a hovering space surrounding said base, a lamp within said base, and means conducting the hot gases from the lamp to the outer portion of the radiator whereby to impart the greatest heat to the outer portion of the hovering space, and means for discharging the cooler gases nearer the center.

5. A portable hover comprising a base adapted to rest upon a floor, a heat chamber projecting from said base to form the roof of a hovering space, said chamber having an inclined radiator surface on its under side. a curtain hung from the outer and higher part of said radiator, a lamp in said base, and said heat chamber having means for directing the hot gases from said lamp against said radiator Wherefrom the heat is radiated effectively toward said curtain.

6. A hover comprising a central lamp chamber, a heat chamber surrounding it with a bottom radiating plate inclined from a higher marginal portion to a lower central portion, the top of said heat chamber insulated and inclined from a higher central portion to its lower marginal portion, a lamp in said lamp chamber, and means conducting hot gases therefrom into said heat chamber whereby said gases descend under the inclined top thereof and are directed against the outer or marginal portion of said radiator.

7. A hover comprising a central base, a heat chamber surmounting it having a conical top descending from its central toward its marginal portion and covered with insulation, and a conical bottom descending from its marginal toward its central portion and uncovered to form a radiator, a curtain hung from the marginal portion of said chamber to inclose a hovering space, a lamp in said base, and flues directing the hot gases from said lamp into said heat chamber and drawing the cooler gases from said heat chamber.

8. A hover comprising a central chamber having a lamp, :1 heat chamber receiving the hot gases from said lamp at its upper part, and projecting beyond said central chamber, with the hovering space beneath such projecting portion of the heat chamber and surrounding said central chamber, and. an escape flue leading from within said central chamber and drawing the partially cooled gases from the lower part of the heat chamber.

9. A portable hover adapted to be set on a floor, comprising an upright heater chamber entirely above the plane of such floor closed at the bottom and open at the top, and a removable heater inclosed within said chamber, and adapted to be removed through the top opening thereof.

10. A portable hover comprising an upright chamber forming a base supporting the remainder of the hover, said chamber closed at the bottom and open at the top, and a removable heater within said chamber adapted to be removed through the top opening thereof.

11. A portable floorless hover adapted to be set on a floor. comprising an upright lamp chamber entirely above the plane of such floor, and open at the top, a heating lamp inclosed within said chamber and removable through the top thereof, a heat chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom, an air inlet, and an outlet for the heated gases, an air space being provided above the oil font of the lamp communicating with said inlet for cooling the oil font.

12. A hover comprising a lamp, a shield above the oil font thereof, a descending air inlet tube conducting air beneath said shield and a flue for discharging products of combustion communicating with the space beneath said shield for causing a circulation of cool air over said font.

13. A portable hover adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lamp chamber. a heat chamber above and projecting beyond the same, to form the top of a hovering space, a curtain hungtherefrom to inclose such hovering space, and a lamp in said lamp chamber connected to the hover to be lifted therewith.

14. A portable hover, adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lamp chamber. a heat chamber above and communicating with said lamp chamber to receive the hot gases therefrom, projecting beyond it to form the top of a hovering space. and having a tbp opening, a lamp in said lamp chamber, and a closure for said top opening connected to said lamp whereby the lamp may be lifted out through said top opening.

15. In a hover, a base adapted to rest on a.floor, having a closed bottom and a top opening, said base forming a lamp chamber, a lamp therein, a heat chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom, forming the top of a hovering space, an air inlet to the lamp, and an outlet for the spent products from said heat. chamber to the exterior.

16. A portable hover adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lamp chamber, a heat chamber surmounting the same and projecting laterally to form the top of a hovering space, and having a top opening, a closure for said opening having a down-draft air-inlet flue opening through it and attached to it, and a lamp in said lamp chamber, detachably connected to said flue, whereby it may be lifted out by removing said closure.

17. A portable hover adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lamp chamber, a heat-chamber surmounting the same and projecting laterally to form the top of a hovering space, and having a top opening, a closure for said opening having a down-draft air-inlet flue and an up-draft discharge flue, both opening through it and attachet to it, and a lamp in said lampchamber, detachably connected to said flues, whereby it may be lifted /out by removing said closure.

18. A portable hover adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lampchamber having a top opening, a closure for said opening, a lamp in said chamber, a shield overlying the lamp font, a lampsupport underlying the font, said shield and support connected to the closure to enable the lamp to be lifted out.

19. A portable hover adapted to rest on a floor, and comprising an upright lampchamber having a top opening, a closure for said opening, a lamp in said chamber, a shield overlying the lamp font, a lamp-support underlying the font, said shield and support connected to the closure to enable the lamp to be lifted out, said shield having a lateral slot to enable the lamp to be detached therefrom, and a movable plate adapted to close said slot to hold the lamp when in place.

20. A hover having a heat chamber comprising an insulated exposed wall rovided with an opening, and an insulate ,removable closure therefor, and a radiator wall, a lower chamber communicating with said radiator and alined with said opening, a lamp within said lower chamber, an air inlet pipe communicating with said lamp, and an outlet flue for the products of combustion.

21. Ahover having a heater comprising a central lamp with its font, burner and chimney, a heat-chamber above said lamp receiving the ,hot gases therefrom, an interposed horizontal heat-shield, and a screen between the burner and font to intercept from the latter the radiant heat from the flame.

22. A floorless hover adapted to rest on a floor, and to be lifted bodily therefrom, comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater therein, a heatradiating chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom projecting laterally beyond the heater chamber with its under side exposed to form a radiator, and an outlet for the spent gases therefrom; said hover having a free hovering space around the heater chamber,and adapted to utilize the floor on which it rests as the bottom thereof.

23. A floorless hover adapted to rest on a floor, and to be lifted bodily therefrom, comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater therein, a heatradiating chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom projecting laterally beyond the heater chamber with its under side exposed to form a radiator, such radiator descending from a higher marginal portion toward its central portion; said hover having a free hovering space around the heater chamber, and adapted to utilize the floor on which it rests as the bottom thereof.

24. A floorless hover adapted to rest on a floor, and to be lifted bodily therefrom, comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater therein, a heatradiating chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom, projecting laterally beyond the heater chamber with its under side exposed to form a radiator, such radiator descending from a higher marginal portion toward its central portion, and the top of said chamber descending from its central portion toward its marginal portion.

25. A floorless hover adapted torest on a floor, and to be lifted bodily therefrom, comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater therein, a heatradiating chamber receiving the hot gases therefrom, projecting laterally beyond the heater chamber with its under side exposed to form a radiator, means directing the hot gases from said heater against the marginal portion of said radiator, and an outlet for the cooler spent gases.

26. A portable hover adapted to rest upon a floor and comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a heater therein, a radiating chamber surmounting said central chamber and projecting beyond it to form the roof of a hovering s ace, said chamber having a top plate inclined from a higher central portlon to a lower marginal portion, todirect the hot gases toward the latter, and an outlet for discharging the cooler spent gases.

27. A portable hover adapted to rest upon a floor andv comprising a central heater chamber above the plane of such floor, a In witness whereof, I have hereunto lamp therein, a radiating chamber sursigned my name in the presence of two sub- 10 mounting saidh cenftral chamber, receivifilg scribing witnesses.

the hot gases t ere rom, and projectin eyond it to form the roof of a hovering s ace THOMAS THOMSON with its bottom radiating plate inciined Witnesses: from a higher marginal portion to a lower WILLIAM F. MARTINEZ, central portion. FRED WHITE. 

